The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-24
JONES' LIFE INSURANCE.

JONES' LIFE INSURANCE.
When the life insurance agent corner
ed Jones out in the corn-feld the other
day and persuaded him that 5000 pol
icy was Just what he needed in order that
his friends might reverence his memory,
there was not a man in the state who
was on better terms with the world in
general than was Simon Jones.
But the agent had not been gone an
hour before everything seemed changed.
Not that any of his friends or family
had ever intimated that a sum of that
kind would help assuage their poignant
grief when he should have shuified off
this mortal coil, vet Jones could not ban
ish the growing idea that il would be a
fine thing to have five thousand dollars
in clean cash. He had taken out the pol
icy in his wife's favor. of course, for he
would have told you an hour ago that
such women a. Sally Jones we're mighty
scarce. But not it seemed to him all at
once that it would be rather unfair for
Sally to be covortin' round with all that
money while he mouldered away quite
forgotten by them all. To be sure he was
strong and heaithy-not a better man in
the county, twas said-but, then, Sally
was strong too; she would be sure to out
live him-sure TO get that five thousand
dollars and be dashing young widow
like Simon has seen and always detested
sally was not very stylish or dashing
at present, certainly. Simon could see
her from where he was at work, hanging
cut the weekly wash, with a screaming
baby under one arm. But, then. who
knew how much style sally might devel-
op if invested with such magnificent
sum rs five Thousand dollars?
He unhitched his horses and drove
slowly to the house, with a growing con-
viction that he was not long for this
world His solemn face at dinner called
forth remarks from the kind hearted Sal
ly, and then it came out about the policy
Simon had taken that morning. Sally
was delighted % Five thousand dollars
she said, smiling into Simon's gloomy
face That would be a nice sum for
me and the children in case you should
be taken away nothing ike providing
for rainy day"
You wouldn't git it unless died,
snapped the irritated Simon
"'Course not, which | hope WON'T be
for long time yet, replied Sally; but
still its good thing. Now, there was
Lee Barnes, who died, an his insurance
was two thousand, an whatever Mary
would a-done without that money is
If you think I'm such weak shake
down rs Lee Barnes, you're greatly mis-
taken" interrupted Simon, angrily. "He
never was no count, an his wife was
fiantin' round tryin' to git married again
fore he'd been dead six months Don't
hold mp them Barnes for no pattern to
me
Sally was astonished at this outburst
from the generally good-natured Simon.
never said you was like Lee Barnes"
she retorted, 8 said he left his wife two
dollars insurance when he died
and he did, too"
well, who cares if he did?" cried ST.
mon, angrily, rising and leaving the
kitchen in a huff He was convinced at
once that Sally would much prefer that !
i've thousand dollars 10 him, alive.
That's the way with women" he
"All they think of is money
and I've always been good husband.
Nobody can't say haven't
The fact that neither sally nor any one
Else had ever disputed the fact did not
occur TO the misguided Simon, who went
lbout his work moody and silent, his
mind filed with bitterness toward every
Dne.
Sally maryeled some over Simon's
queer behavior, but finally concluded 4
had worried him, the horses (
nav be, one Of them was rather inclined |
% balk, he would be all right by supper
lime
But supper time brought no change,
nor the next day, nor the next, and Sal (
VS. questions only seemed to anger him.
:" Are you sick. Simon ," she inquired,
enderly or have you heard bad news? /
botherin' you; what is it2'
q | tell you there amt nothin' the mat
er," replied Simon, suIlenlv, sitting down Z
n chair in which some of the children /
lad Just upset a cup ofwater. He sprang
% his feet 50 suddenly that Sally under (
standing the cause, laughed long and /
oud.
At another time Simon would have /
oined in this harmless mirth, but now,
himself in the light of a mar
.yr, he only gazed contemptuously hpon
he irreyerent sally, who still giggied be- /
hind her gingham apron.
i" Oh YOU can laugh" he sneered
you've nothin' to trouble you and when I
I'm gone you're safe"
Where YOU goin', SIM" cried Sally, I
,agerly, forgetting her laughter and fail
ng TO see the significance of this cutting /
That Simon standing there be- (
ore her was seriously talking of dying /
never occurred to her. Where you go
n, simon?r she reiterated. Cause if /
Y u're goin' down to Snyder's, promis-
II Maria some of them erookel-necked /
'quashes ont in the lot, an yon can take /
em over it.